Huawei awaits 5G call before deciding on Raiders sponsorship

Missing out on Australia's 5G network would have a substantial effect on Huawei's business Down Under, but it will await the Australian government's final decision before deciding how it could affect its Canberra Raiders sponsorship.

Huawei corporate affairs director Jeremy Mitchell said the company's focus was on working with the Raiders on their new centre of excellence at Braddon, where it will provide telecommunications technology.

Huawei will await the government's decision before deciding on Raiders sponsorship.

Photo: Katherine Griffiths

Mr Mitchell said Malcolm Turnbull's government was yet to make a final decision and it was still hopeful of being involved.

But he admitted missing out would be a big blow to its business in Australia and it would need to reassess any sponsorships going forward.

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Huawei is not only major sponsors of the Green Machine, but also sponsors AFL club Gold Coast Suns and New Zealand A-League team Wellington Phoenix.

"At the moment the government haven't made any decision on 5G, so we're continuing as business as usual," Mr Mitchell said.

"If we were to not participate in the 5G that would have quite a large and substantial effect on our business, seeing as 70 per cent of our business is in the wireless network area so obviously that would have quite a large flow on to our business.

"We would have to wait and see the final details and the full impact on our business, but we're hopeful it won't get to that."

Huawei will become the Raiders' longest serving major sponsor when its current deal runs out at the end of 2019, having signed on in 2012.

Mitchell said talks were yet to start on extending the current deal. Raiders chief executive Don Furner declined to comment.

"We're only halfway through the three-year contract that we signed," Mr Mitchell said.

"We've been talking to the Raiders about their new facility and we look forward to putting in some high-tech, world-leading technology from Huawei to their performance centre, which will hopefully ensure they're the best team possible."